What does a child have to do to select a clause connector in the 11+?

Choose a conjunction or connective matching the stated relationship. It is one of 41 named English skills in the 11+, in the grammar strand, and this page carries 1 interactive exercise that practises it.

What is the trap in an 11+ select a clause connector question?

Every option is a real joining word, so none of them looks odd on its own. Only one describes the link these two particular clauses actually have. The wrong answers on this skill are built out of that, not out of random numbers, so it is worth naming out loud before your child meets it under time pressure.

What is not part of select a clause connector in the 11+?

The skill map draws the line here: One relation such as cause, time, condition, or contrast. A question past that line is testing a different named English skill, which is worth knowing before you spend a week practising the wrong one.

Which other 11+ skills should we practise alongside select a clause connector?

The grammar strand holds 9 skills that are placed together on the skill map, and the pages next to select a clause connector are select a pronoun form, classify a word in context and complete a finite clause. Each has its own exercise and its own link, and none of them needs an account.

How can my child practise select a clause connector for free?

Use Connector Choice, embedded on this page. It is the exercise the skill map attaches to select a clause connector, it runs in the browser with no account to make, these exercises are not scored and do not save learner records. The separate quiz sends answers for marking and shows a score, without saving an assessment record. It also has its own link, so you can send it to a child without sending them anywhere else first.

English · Grammar

Select a clause connector

Choose a conjunction or connective matching the stated relationship.

Watch the worked example

Choose the Clause Connector

This video shows how to choose a joining word that expresses how two clauses are linked. Watch an 11+ English question solved step by step.

Open video page and transcript

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Quick quiz: Select a clause connector

10 questions, with feedback after each one. No sign-up needed.

Read the questions in this quiz

Question 1
Which connective shows the moment when the second event happens? She was reading in the garden ___ the storm broke.
- A.until
- B.unless
- C.when
- D.because
Question 2
Which connective shows the moment when the second event happens? Everyone stood up ___ the head teacher walked in.
- A.unless
- B.although
- C.until
- D.when
Question 3
Which connective shows the moment when the second event happens? The rain began ___ we were halfway across the field.
- A.until
- B.so
- C.when
- D.if
Question 4
Which connective shows that the two actions happen at the same time? We waited on the platform ___ the engineers checked the track.
- A.while
- B.if
- C.until
- D.so
Question 5
Which connective shows that the second part gives the cause of the first? The pond froze ___ the temperature dropped below zero.
- A.because
- B.until
- C.so
- D.although
Question 6
Which connective shows that the first event happens immediately when the second event happens? The seedlings shot up ___ the sun came out.
- A.if
- B.until
- C.although
- D.as soon as
Question 7
Which connective shows the moment when the second event happens? We were halfway home ___ the tyre burst.
- A.until
- B.although
- C.when
- D.if
Question 8
Which connective shows that the first event happens earlier than the second event? The queue had gone ___ we got to the door.
- A.because
- B.before
- C.whereas
- D.after
Question 9
Which connective shows that the first event happens later than the second event? The team celebrated ___ the final whistle blew.
- A.despite
- B.if
- C.before
- D.after
Question 10
Which connective shows a contrast between the two parts? He answered every question ___ he had missed a fortnight of lessons.
- A.although
- B.despite
- C.because
- D.before

Practise it now

Choose the conjunction of time that tells how long to wait: stop waiting when the bus arrives. Drop it into the gap and read the instruction.

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A worked example

One question of the kind this skill is tested with, worked all the way through: the reasoning, and what the wrong answers are there to catch.

Worked example: Which connective fits?

Worked example: Which connective shows that the first event happens immediately when the second event happens? The hall emptied ___ the bell went.

so
so that
because
as soon as

Answer: as soon as

How you get there

The two halves of this sentence are linked by a point in time, and "as soon as" is the connective that signals it. Other connectives may describe different meanings, but the task asks for this link. Compare them: "so that" signals a purpose; "because" signals a cause; "so" signals a result.

Why the other answers tempt

Every option is a real joining word, so none of them looks odd on its own. Only one describes the link these two particular clauses actually have.

If they are stuck, say this

Ignore the connective for a moment and ask what the second part is doing to the first: giving a reason, setting a condition, marking a time, or turning it around.

Now do it live in Connector Choice

Kitchen-table script for parents

Try this together

A friendly mini script for the breakfast table, school run or a quiet two minutes. Read it aloud as written, or make it your own.

Ready? Let's have a go at Select a clause connector together. Here comes the question: Worked example: Which connective shows that the first event happens immediately when the second event happens? The hall emptied ___ the bell went. Before we race ahead, let us choose one good first step. Here is a helpful clue: Ignore the connective for a moment and ask what the second part is doing to the first: giving a reason, setting a condition, marking a time, or turning it around. Nice work. Now let us follow the thinking: The two halves of this sentence are linked by a point in time, and "as soon as" is the connective that signals it. So our answer is: as soon as. There is one sneaky trap to watch for: Every option is a real joining word, so none of them looks odd on its own. Only one describes the link these two particular clauses actually have. Can you show me that first move again in your own words? Brilliant. No rush; we are practising a method you can reuse, not trying to win a speed contest.

What this exercise is doing

Connector Choice

Choose the conjunction of time that tells how long to wait: stop waiting when the bus arrives. Drop it into the gap and read the instruction.

The intended instruction is "Wait in the shelter until the bus arrives." Until gives the end point of the wait. Other conjunctions may form grammatical sentences, but they change the intended relationship. Here the question asks for the time link, not a different condition, contrast or purpose.

What to say if they get stuck

Ignore the chips for a moment. Ask what the second half is DOING to the first: giving a reason, setting a condition, marking a time, or turning it around.
The instruction asks for a time link. Other conjunctions can make grammatical sentences, but they express a different relationship.
Read it back with each chip in place. "Wait in the shelter until the bus arrives" says a point in time, which is what this pair means.

Open Connector Choice on its own page to share it

Related english skills

Classify a word in contextIdentify the grammatical function of one highlighted word in its sentence.
Complete a finite clauseComplete one clause with an explicit subject and a finite verb.
Distinguish contraction and possessionChoose between a possessive form and a contraction in one sentence.
Distinguish a phrase and clauseDecide whether a group of words contains a clause and identify its role.
Maintain consistent tenseChoose a verb form that preserves the intended tense sequence.
Match subject and verbChoose a verb form that agrees with its true subject.
Order sentence elementsArrange supplied words into one grammatical sentence.
Select a pronoun formChoose the pronoun form that fits its grammatical role.

All english 11+ skills

Questions parents ask about select a clause connector

What this skill involves, common mistakes and ways to practise it at home.

: Choose a conjunction or connective matching the stated relationship. It is one of 41 named English skills in the 11+, in the grammar strand, and this page carries 1 interactive exercise that practises it.
: Every option is a real joining word, so none of them looks odd on its own. Only one describes the link these two particular clauses actually have. The wrong answers on this skill are built out of that, not out of random numbers, so it is worth naming out loud before your child meets it under time pressure.
: Point at the next move rather than explaining the whole rule. Ignore the connective for a moment and ask what the second part is doing to the first: giving a reason, setting a condition, marking a time, or turning it around.
: The skill map draws the line here: One relation such as cause, time, condition, or contrast. A question past that line is testing a different named English skill, which is worth knowing before you spend a week practising the wrong one.
: The grammar strand holds 9 skills that are placed together on the skill map, and the pages next to select a clause connector are select a pronoun form, classify a word in context and complete a finite clause. Each has its own exercise and its own link, and none of them needs an account.
: Use Connector Choice, embedded on this page. It is the exercise the skill map attaches to select a clause connector, it runs in the browser with no account to make, these exercises are not scored and do not save learner records. The separate quiz sends answers for marking and shows a score, without saving an assessment record. It also has its own link, so you can send it to a child without sending them anywhere else first.

Comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation are four different problems

A free diagnostic separates them, so practice goes where the gap actually is rather than on whichever one is easiest to set.